An 1853 edition of Uncle Tom’s Cabin from London, with 100 added illustrations in watercolor by an artist, presumably “Eugene Bauer” by the appearance of his signature next to several images. The detailed and deft characters and objects add a contemporary view of the famous novel by an amateur artist.

They are all part of the the world of Drawn to Enchant: Original Children’s Book Art in the Betsy Beinecke Shirley Collection, a celebration of the collection gathered by one of the world’s most astute collector’s of children’s literature.

From variant illustrations for Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are to little-known sketches for nineteenth-century periodicals that delighted generations of children, Drawn to Enchant offers a unique opportunity to study the reading lives of children throughout American history. Just as important, it invites each reader to recollect favorite images from the treasured books of his or her own childhood.

The book is officially released on October 15, 2007 and is available via the Yale University Press website: (in US at www.yale.edu/yup/ and in the UK at www.yalebooks.co.uk) and fine bookstores everywhere. Containing over 200 full color illustrations, it makes a wonderful gift for readers of all ages! [DISCLAIMER: Yes, this is a shameless plug for a publication by one of this blog’s curators. But the book is *really* lovely!]